.22 mag vs. .17 hmr

[h2ofowlr]

I was wondering what your thoughts were on the two calibers?  I am looking at going with one or the other.  Any pro's or con's?

[CAMPMEAT]

I have both. The 22 mag is better. You can get more distance than a 17 HMR and more knock down power.

I have the 17 WSM too. Someone needs to make a little bull barrel rifle instead of the crappy Savage B mag. It's a cheaply made, in a hurry rifle.
The caliber is great.

[Skillet]

Tag.  I am considering a switch from my trusty Savage 23AA in .22 LR  to either a .17 hmr or .22 mag for a grouse/small varmint gun now myself.

[carpsniperg2]

22 magnum all the way. A lot more knock down over the 17.

[KFhunter]

The "hits harder" argument is invalid at ~ 125 yards as the .17 HMR starts to carry more energy than the .22 mag.
at 150 yards the .17HMR has more knock down power if you're talking ft/lbs energy stored.

The .17HMR is around 550fps faster then the .22mag.  They make a mess of squirrels.

If I wanted to shoot a coyote at 50 yards I'd use a .22mag.  If I wanted to shoot a coyote at 100+ yards I'd use a center fire.

the .17hmr is stupid accurate out of my savage heavy barrel,  very fun popping heads off p-dogs at 100 yards.



At 100 yards the .17HMR in 20gr carries more ft/lbs of energy than the 30 grain .22mag. 

The charts don't go beyond 100 yards for the .22mag, so that tells you something too huh. 

[carpsniperg2]

  Most people are not shooting dogs at 125 or + yards. So I think it is very valid. We have killed tons of dogs with the 22 mag and most are dead on impact type kills. I have watched my buddies shoot probably 10-12 coyotes with the 17 and only seen them drop from head shots. All the others have been runners. The bullets are part of the picture. A lot of the 17's really blow up and the 22 mag bullets hold together much better.

[KFhunter]

yes I agree there, .17hmr is for small stuff.

sorry I edited, sounded like a braggart when I re-read it.

[carpsniperg2]

If I was just hunting rats or p dogs. I would probably grab the 17hmr, even though the ammo is a little more the trajectory is better then the 22mag with a higher velocity. For those longer shots a guy may get.

When it comes to knock down the bullets play a lot. I have put well over 2k rounds threw 22 mags. I have never run the 30 grain bullets. I am always running 36 or 40 grain bullets.

That is where the knock down shows better in the 22 mag.

17 HMR, 20 grain XTP = ME 250 ft. lbs., 187 ft. lbs. at 50 yards, 137 ft. lbs. at 100 yards

22 WMR, 40 grain JHP = ME 324 ft. lbs., 230 ft. lbs. at 50 yards, 162 ft. lbs. at 100 yards

They both have the place for sure.

[KFhunter]

what I'd like to see is overall accuracy comparisons from 22mag to 17hmr given the same gun configuration.


If you were shooting copper penny's at 25, 50 or 100 yards would you pick up the 17hmr or 22mag?

[jrebel]

I love my .17 hmr and am looking to buy a .22 mag this year......case and point, why not own both!!!

[Biggerhammer]

I tried the .17 HMR, while accurate and fun. I found myself back to just using my .22 Mag, so I sold the .17 to a friend. For his youngest son to shoot.

[KFhunter]

I love my .17 hmr and am looking to buy a .22 mag this year......case and point, why not own both!!!

Ya they're crazy fun.


I have the 17HMR savage with thumbhole and my bro has a CZ in 22mag.   I love em both!

mine's hell on squirrels,  but I'd use that long barrel CZ on a coyote!

but I'd use my 17HMR on a bobcat with 20gr jhp

[carpsniperg2]

what I'd like to see is overall accuracy comparisons from 22mag to 17hmr given the same gun configuration.


If you were shooting copper penny's at 25, 50 or 100 yards would you pick up the 17hmr or 22mag?

That would indeed be a good one. Yet we all know that some rifles off the same line can shoot better then others. I have a couple 22 mag's now. Most quality 17hmr's will outshoot the American that I have. My 77/22 on the other hand will put most of them in the dirt. One of the most accurate rimfire rifles I have ever shot or owned.

[Biggerhammer]

what I'd like to see is overall accuracy comparisons from 22mag to 17hmr given the same gun configuration.


If you were shooting copper penny's at 25, 50 or 100 yards would you pick up the 17hmr or 22mag?

I don't know! But the two .17's I had were darn accurate both Marlins. They would zip a fairly clean hole through a quarter.

[Wazukie]

This one will kill clays at 300 yards all day long   fun to shoot for sure, NEF 17 HMR  But ya, I think they both have their place and not one better than the other.